Steiner “cautiously optimistic” that Haas will return to midfield in 2022

Life has been tough for Haas in the last few campaigns. But team boss Günther Steiner believes that the new F1 regulations 2022 will be a unique opportunity for the team to get back into midfield and rediscover the form they were in a few seasons ago.

Since the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, Haas has only collected three points, all of which were scored in the 2020 season – although Haas’ rookie line-up with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin in 2021 does not have to get out of hand this season.

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That’s partly because of Haas’ decision not to develop this year’s VF-21 package and instead focus on his challenger for the radically new 2022 Formula 1 regulations – an approach that worked well, Steiner said.

“The development of the ’22 car is going well, we are making progress with every wind tunnel session,” said Steiner, comparing the current situation with the time when Haas first entered the sport in 2016.

“For me it’s a bit like ’15 or ’16, but to say how good we are I have no idea because I don’t know how good the other nine teams are. But as a team we are now working again like in ’15, ’16 and ’17 [with] the technical team in Italy, and I am cautiously optimistic that we will be in the midfield again next year. “

Haas has seen big changes off-track lately, with Simone Resta being brought in by Ferrari to take on the role of Technical Director for the American team in 2021, while Haas also won a new technical center in Maranello as part of his graduation from Connections to Ferrari.

And Steiner said he believes the team is now “in good shape” to rediscover a level of performance in 2022 similar to that in which it took a shocking fifth place in the 2018 constructors’ championship.

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“Everything could always be strengthened,” said Steiner when asked what could be improved at Haas by 2022. The racing team is in good shape and there won’t be any big changes.

“I think we will be ready,” he added. “There are still a lot of people from 2018 when we finished fifth in the championship so these people are still good and they haven’t forgotten how to do it. I rely on these people and I am confident that they will make it back for us [will] have good results – maybe not fifth, but still in midfield, like in ’16 and ’17. “